Vibration isolation mounting system

Abstract

A system is disclosed for mounting a vibration producing device onto a spacecraft structure and also for isolating the vibration forces thereof from the structure. The system includes a mount on which the device is securely mounted and inner and outer rings. The rings and mount are concentrically positioned. The system includes a base (secured to the structure) and a set of links which are interconnected by a set of torsion bars which allow and resist relative rotational movement therebetween. The set of links are also rotatably connected to a set of brackets which are rigidly connected to the outer ring. Damped leaf springs interconnect the inner and outer rings and the mount allow relative translational movement therebetween in X and Y directions. The links, brackets and base are interconnected and configured so that they allow and resist translational movement of the device in the Z direction so that in combination with the springs they provide absorption of vibrational energy produced by the device in all three dimensions while providing rotational stiffness about all three axes to prevent undesired rotational motions.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for mounting a device and isolating motion related forces thereof, comprising: a mount for mounting the device thereon;   a base;   a set of links;   a set of connecting means for rotatably connecting said base and said set of links, said set of connecting means resisting relative rotational movement therebetween;   a set of brackets rotatably connected to said set of links;   an outer ring rotatably connected to said set of brackets;   an inner ring positioned within said outer ring, said mount positioned within said inner ring;   a first set of springs interconnecting said inner and outer rings, said first set of springs allowing a desired degree of relative movement between said inner and outer rings; and   a second set of springs interconnecting said inner ring and said mount, said second set of springs allowing a desired degree of relative movement between said inner ring and said mount.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein links of said set of links are positioned so that said links are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein said base and brackets of said set of brackets are positioned so that said base and said brackets are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of links and said set of brackets and said base are dimensioned and connection points thereof located so that said set of links, said set of brackets and said base form a generally parallelogram configuration structure. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 wherein said set of links, said set of brackets and said base are positioned so that the parallelogram configuration structure is in a nearly collapsed position. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of links is two pairs of links and said set of brackets is a pair of brackets, said pair of brackets positioned at diametrically opposed locations on said outer ring. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 1 further including a set of trunnions mounted on said outer ring for rotatably interconnecting said outer ring and said set of brackets. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of connecting means includes a torsion bar. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1 wherein said first set of springs includes a first set of flexure members allowing relative movement of said inner and outer rings in generally only a radial direction. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9 wherein said first set of flexure members includes a first set of single bar leaf springs. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 10 wherein said first set of single bar leaf springs includes a first set of auxiliary torque reaction springs. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 10 further including a first set of dampers mounted on said first set of leaf springs. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of springs includes a second set of flexure members allowing relative movement of said inner ring and said mount in generally only a transverse direction. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13 wherein said second set of flexure members includes a second set of single bar leaf springs. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 14 wherein said second set of single bar leaf springs includes a second set of auxiliary torque reaction springs. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 14 further including a second set of dampers mounted on said second set of leaf springs. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer rings are positioned and oriented so that they are generally coplanar. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 1 further including a locking means interconnecting said mount and said inner and outer rings for preventing relative movement therebetween. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18 wherein said locking means includes: a first set of lock pins slidably mounted in said mount;   said inner ring having a recess at a location therein to receive an end portion of said first set of pins therein;   a second set of pins slidably mounted in said inner ring;   said outer ring having a recess positioned to receive an end portion of said second set of pins therein.   
     
     
       20. The system of claim 1 further including a first set of strain gauges mounted on said first set of springs. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 1 further including a second set of strain gauges mounted on said second set of springs. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 1 further including a third set of strain gauges mounted on a set of trunnions rigidly interconnecting said set of brackets and said outer ring.